US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"

There are still significant hurdles ahead, both technical and legislative.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/10/us-rep-proposes-bill-to-give-video-game-buyers-ownership-not-a-license/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses found recording audio without wearers' consent

The bug is fixed, but privacy concerns remain.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/ray-ban-meta-smart-glasses-found-recording-audio-without-wearers-consent/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

RFK Jr. proposes FDA look the other way on unproven peptides, report says

FDA scientists said none of the popular drugs have been proven safe or effective.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/10/rfk-jr-proposes-fda-look-the-other-way-on-unproven-peptides-report-says/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Meta may use sweeping new commercial TOS to avoid millions in AI licensing fees

Meta “streamlined” its commercial TOS. Legal experts warn it’s an AI power grab.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/meta-may-use-sweeping-new-commercial-tos-to-avoid-millions-in-ai-licensing-fees/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

KDE turns 30 with Plasma 6.8, remote upgrades, and an X11 farewell

KDE celebrates 30 years with a new Plasma release, a farewell to X11, and a movie.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/kde-turns-30-with-plasma-6-8-remote-upgrades-and-an-x11-farewell/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Hegseth’s dubious low-T screening may flag up to 25 percent of the Army

Medical experts explicitly recommend against blanket screenings.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/10/hegseths-dubious-low-t-screening-may-flag-up-to-25-percent-of-the-army/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Black Sea drone attacks enter NATO country's territorial waters for first time

Suspected Russian drones attack chemical tanker within Romanian waters.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/black-sea-drone-attacks-enter-nato-countrys-territorial-waters-for-first-time/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Georgia man sues Flock, sheriff's office over alleged ALPR-fueled retaliation

Plaintiff claims cameras enabled warrantless tracking and monitoring after he previously sued over excessive force.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/georgia-man-sues-flock-sheriffs-office-over-alleged-alpr-fueled-retaliation/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

FBI arrests OpenAI engineer suspected of planting bug in conference room

OpenAI engineer faces 5 years and $250K fine as FBI lobs foreign spy charges.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/fbi-arrests-openai-engineer-suspected-of-planting-bug-in-conference-room/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Legendary FPS level designer Richard "Levelord" Gray passes away at 68

Tributes pour in for the man behind iconic Duke Nukem 3D levels and much more.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/10/legendary-fps-level-designer-richard-levelord-gray-passes-away-at-68/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Ukraine blindsided by Starlink throttling restrictions and intelligence gaps

Kyiv’s forces experience connectivity problems on Elon Musk’s satellite network.
https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2026/10/ukraine-blindsided-by-starlink-throttling-restrictions-and-intelligence-gaps/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Anthropic warns small AI models could self-replicate through IoT devices

"Small weight-based replicators" could usher in a new generation of computer worms.
https://arstechnica.com/security/2026/10/anthropic-warns-small-ai-models-could-self-replicate-through-iot-devices/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

OpenAI, Google pushing new AI models easily tricked into making nudes, researchers say

Attack method exposes flaws in OpenAI, Google safeguards against AI nudes.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/openai-google-pushing-new-ai-models-easily-tricked-into-making-nudes-researchers-say/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Disney offers $20M for Character.AI’s scandal-plagued chatbot tech

Disney may acquire tech from one of the first chatbot makers linked to child suicide.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/disney-offers-20m-for-character-ais-scandal-plagued-chatbot-tech/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Europe shows a better alternative to big SUVs at the Paris Auto Show

Small EVs and efficient people carriers update familiar names for the modern age.
https://arstechnica.com/cars/2026/10/europe-shows-a-better-alternative-to-big-suvs-at-the-paris-auto-show/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

They war-gamed dimming the Sun. It went even worse than you think.

Solar geoengineering simulation shows what happens when geopolitics takes over.
https://arstechnica.com/science/2026/10/they-war-gamed-dimming-the-sun-it-went-even-worse-than-you-think/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

39-year-old unvaccinated woman becomes 6th measles death in Pennsylvania

As of Friday, state health officials reported 1,136 cases across 41 counties.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/10/39-year-old-unvaccinated-woman-becomes-6th-measles-death-in-pennsylvania/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Report: Epic Games goes all-in on AI for Disney collaboration

"No more hand-written code" or AI-free art for delayed Marvel/Star Wars shooter.
https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2026/10/report-epic-games-goes-all-in-on-ai-for-disney-collaboration/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

WHO report on Russian lab worker death highlights "key uncertainty"

Without a cause of death, it's unclear if Russia's precautions were the right ones.
https://arstechnica.com/health/2026/10/who-report-on-russian-lab-worker-death-highlights-key-uncertainty/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social

Anthropic's Claude AI submitted false murder tip to Philadelphia police

“I may have information regarding this case," Claude AI told Philly police.
https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2026/10/anthropics-claude-ai-submitted-false-murder-tip-to-philadelphia-police/?utm_brand=arstechnica&utm_social-type=owned&utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social